Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20160718 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 18, 2016 5:00 PM, City Council Chambers MEETING AGENDA I. Work Session will be at the Limelight Lodge - Not televised - Land Use Code Revisions/Commercial Design Standards P1 July 18, 2016 Council Work Session Page 1 of 3 MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Skadron and City Council FROM: Jessica Garrow, Community Development Director Justin Barker, Senior Planner DATE: July 18, 2016 5pm @ Limelight Lodge RE: Land Use Code Revisions – Commercial Design Guidelines SUMMARY: This work session kicks off work on updates to the City’s Commercial Design Standards as part of the moratorium land use code work. City staff and consultants from Rowland + Broughton and BendonAdams will present information on community design in Aspen in an open, informational session. The presentation will describe elements of community design and relate them to on the ground examples in Aspen. Immediately following the presentation, five staff-guided tours will take place through the different commercial areas of town. These tours are anticipated to last 45-60 minutes and include the Pedestrian Malls, immediate downtown, the Clark’s Market and Obermeyer Place area, Main Street, and the Mountain Base area. Beginning on Monday the 18th, the tours will also be available on the project website, www.aspencommunityvoice.com/commercial-design, for community members to take on their own. This work session kicks off “Commercial Design Week,” where all work on aligning the land use code with the AACP will focus on community design and the City’s Commercial Design Guidelines. Small group meetings with community members, Council members, and appointed city board members will be held throughout the week. All Council members and several P&Z, HPC and CCLC members are attending these small group meetings. The APCHA and NextGen Boards have also been invited. There remains availability in the Thursday (July 21st) 9am small group meeting for any community member interested in providing feedback in a small group setting. The meeting is in the Rio Grande meeting room above Taster’s Pizza, and RSVPs can be sent to AACP@cityofaspen.com. No Council action is requested at this meeting, as it is intended as a community information session. Council is asked to provide detailed feedback during the week’s small group meetings. BACKGROUND: The city first adopted Commercial Design Guidelines in 2007 following the last land use moratorium. Since that time, a number of changes to allowed uses and dimensions in the commercial zones have been adopted. An update to the Guidelines will ensure that future building remodels and redevelopment are more consistent with their context and Aspen’s community character. As a general rule, design guidelines provide the foundation for the architectural and design review process. They draw from existing design patterns – materials, building forms, building placement – and provide design parameters to ensure development is cohesive with its context. Successful guidelines do P2 I. July 18, 2016 Council Work Session Page 2 of 3 not prescribe a specific architectural style, but allow some design flexibility and creativity while being consistent with and supporting existing character and historic buildings. Design guidelines do not mandate the height or the maximum size of a building – these are dimensional requirements found in each zone district. Zoning ensures buildings meet specific heights, floor areas, setbacks, etc. Guidelines ensure that building materials, massing, and building form fit into neighborhood context. While the discussion at the work session and the small group meetings are intended to focus on design guidelines, comments on dimensions will be recorded and used by staff and the City’s main moratorium consultants, Mark White and Alan Richman, to update dimensions in the zone districts. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: In preparation for Commercial Design Week, below are a few questions to consider. In order to have a successful rewrite of the design guidelines, it is important to consider elements that should be encouraged or replicated in town, as well as elements that should no longer be allowed. 1. What are Aspen’s landmark buildings and spaces? 2. What commercial area most defines Aspen to you? 3. Are there specific buildings or outdoor spaces you like? 4. Are there specific buildings or outdoor spaces you dislike? 5. What is your favorite spot on the pedestrian malls? 6. Where do you like to eat lunch outside? 7. How do you feel about rooftop amenity spaces for commercial or NEXT STEPS: Below is the anticipated schedule of outreach events and work sessions through the summer and into the fall. To stay up to date on all the latest information and dates, visit the project website, www.AspenCommunityVoice.com. Feedback on all topics can be made through the website, or by taking a picture and posting on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using #ouraspen and tagging @AspenCommunityVoice and @CityofAspen • July 18, 5pm: Commercial Design Week Kick-off at Limelight, followed by guided walking tours • July 19-21: Commercial Design Small Group Meetings. o There remains availability at the July 21st 9am session at Rio Grande. Community members can RSVP to AACP@cityofaspen.com. • July 30: Pop up work shop at Farmer’s Market • Aug 2-4: Pop up workshops around town • Aug 6: Pop up work shop at Farmer’s Market • Aug 9, 4pm: Work Session on Commercial and Residential Use mix • Aug 29 – Sept 2: Small group community meetings on all moratorium topics • Aug 29, 5pm: Work Session with Mark White and Alan Richman • Aug 30, 4pm: Work Session on Parking and Commercial Design • Mid-Sept: Large community meetings • Early-October: Begin public hearings on specific code language P3 I. July 18, 2016 Council Work Session Page 3 of 3 P4 I.